Electric controlling apparatus



F bv R. L. JEWELL 9 ELECTRIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 19, 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 7 FIG-12' ATTORNEYS.

R. L. JEWELL 1,991 940 ELECTRIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 19, 1931' "2 Sheets- -Sheet 2 LWJZ.

MRIVENTLR;

A TTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 19, 1935 when PATENT orrica ELECTRIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS Raymond L. Jewell, Millcreek Township, Erie County, Pa., assignor to American Sterilizer Company, Erie, Pa., a corporation of Pennsyb- Vania ApplicationAugust 19, 1931, Serial No. 558,057

26 Claims. (Cl. 219-20) With some instruments subjected to electric current it is desirable to control this current manually and automatically in response to certain conditions of the instrument. As an example, with a generator for a sterilizing device it is desirable to provide a manual control by means of which the current may be delivered to the heating elements and through the same switch control the current in response to pressure, or temperature in the generator and also in response to other conditions, such as low water. The present invention accomplishes this purpose in a simple and efficient manner. It is also desirable that the low water control indicate its operation and preferably this may be accomplished by throwing the manual control mechanism as indicating such operation. It is also desirable that in a control responsive to pressure, or heat, within the normal ranges that this may go on and of! automatically without disturbing the manual control and in the present invention this is accomplished. Features and details of the invention will appear from the specification and claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings as follows:

Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of the device.

Fig. 2 a wiring diagram of the device.

Fig, 3 a section on the line 3-3 in Fig. 1.

Fig, 4a is a section on the line 4a-4a in Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 a detail view of the parts immediately controlling the switch with the switch open in response to manual control.

Fig. 5 a similar view with the switch opened as with a pressure control.

Fig. 6 a front elevation of the operating key and indicating device.

1 marks the generator, 2 the heating elements heating the generator, 3 and 4 line wires, and 5 the switch frame provided with the back plate 6 and base plate 7.

The switch preferably comprises a plurality of individual switches. These are mounted on a switch plate 8. The switch plate has the dow turned ears 9. The inner end of this plate is pivotally mounted on a pin 10 supported on a post 11 extending from a projection 12 on the frame. The front end of the switch plate ispivoted on a pin 13 carried by an arm 14, the arm extending from a U-shaped yoke 15, the feet 15a of the yoke resting on posts 16 extending from the back plate and being secured thereon by screws 1'7. The switch plate has a series of spring clips 18 and these are adapted to detachably hold mercury switch tubes 19, the switch tubes having the terminals 20 and these are connected with wires 22 and 23, the wires 22 leading to the line wire 3 and the wires 23 supplying parallel wires 24-24 of the pairs of heating elements 2. The heating elements have wires 25 leading to a return wire 26 and the return wire leads to the line wire 4. While I have shown each switch handling a plurality of heating elements it is, of course, understood that these may handle more or less of the heating elements. The switch plate 8 is provided with a lever arm 28 and this is pivotally connected with a link 29 by a pin 30. The link 29 is connected by a pin 31 on a projection 32 extending from an actuating lever 33. The projection 32 has a socket 32a into which a stop 32?) mounted,

on the frame extends. The socket is larger than the pin thus permitting the required movement. The actuating lever is pivoted on a pin 34 secured in ears 35. The ears 35 extend upwardly from the base 7. A plate 36 is secured to the upper end of the actuating lever and operates in a knife edge notch 37 of a thrust plate 38 of a lag producing device. The thrust plate is pivoted at 39 in a lever 40. The lever is pivoted on a pin 41 extending from a post 42, the post 42 extending from the back plate 6. Pressure is exerted on the lever by means of a spring 43, the lower end oi which it attached to a pin 44 extending from a post 45. The upper end of the tension spring 43 is secured to a screw 46. Thescrew extends through the lever 40 and is provided with a thumb screw 4"! at its upper end by means of which the tension of the spring may be adjusted. With greater tension on the spring the lag, or snap action of the actuating lever is increased. A rock shaft 48 is journaled in a bearing 49 on the 'back plate and in a cross bar 50 of the yoke 15.

A handle 51 has a hub 51a provided with a screw 51b, this arrangement providing means for securing and adjusting the handle with relation to the rock shaft. A pointer 52 is mounted on the handle and traverses an indicator segment 53 with indications 54 thereon indicating the condition of the switch. The indicator segment 53 is secured to the cross member by screws 55.

A rock arm 56 is fixed on the rock shaft 48 by means of a pin 57. It has a projection 58 on the end of which is a roller 59. The roller is adapted. to engage a spring 60 which is formed on the end of the plate 36 and the arm, or projection 58 through this contact actuates the actuating lever 33 to open the switch. The rock arm also has a projection 61 with a roller 62, and a roller 63, the roller 63 being slightly more remote from the axis the rock shaft than the roller 62 and a stop 64.

The rollers 62 and 63 and the stop 64 are adapted to be brought into contact with and the rollers to operate a lever 65. This lever is pivoted on a pin 66 extending from a post 67, the post 67 projecting from the plate 6. The lever 65 is of chan nel form and a screw 68 extends into the channel and is pivotally secured to the lever by a pin 69. The screw extends through an adjusting nut 70, the nut engaging, or forming a base for a spring '71. The spring seats on a plate 72, the plate having a rocking seat in a socket 73 of an arm '74 ex tending from the lever 33. The lever arm 74 in effect forms the arms of a bell crank lever. A click 70a locks the nut '70 in adjustment.

A pressure chamber 75 is secured on the base plate by screws 76. This chamber is connected with the generator 1 by means of a pipe '77. A bellows diaphragm '78 is arranged in the chamber and a projecting pin 79 issecured to the cap 80 of the diaphragm and extends through an opening 81 in the base plate and into a socket 82 on the arm 74. The arm 74 is subjected to the pressure impulses exerted upon the diaphragm by pressure communicated to the chamber from the generator, and any movement incident to pressure is opposed by the spring 71 and to some extent by the lag spring 43. The low water control involves a float 83 in the generator. A lever 84 extends from the float and is pivotally mounted at 85 on the end of the generator. A bellows diaphragm 86 seals the opening through which the lever 84 extends. A switch 87 is actuated by the lever.

A solenoid 88 is in the circuit controlled by the switch 87, one side of the switch being connected with the line wire 4 and the opposite side of the switch with the solenoid through a wire 89. A wire 90 extends from the solenoid through a. switch 91 which is a mercury switch mounted ahthe inner end of the switch plate 8 so that this circuit is opened and closed by the switch plate and also by the switch 8'1. The solenoid is mounted on a tube 92 extending from brackets 93 and 93a on the back plate. The tube 92 is secured in brackets by flaring at 94. A core 95 is slidingly mounted in the tube 92. The end of the core is reduced at 96 and this reduced portion is provided with a head 97. A washer 98 is slidingly mounted on the reduced portion and a spring 99 is mounted between the head 97 and the washer. The washer engages a finger 100 fixed on the rock shaft 48.

With the switch 90 closed, when the float 83 drops closing the switch 87, current is delivered through the solenoid. This actuates the core drawing the finger 100 to the left and thus rocks the shaft 48 and with it the rock arm 56 throwing the roller 59 against the spring plate 60 and the actuating lever 33 and this communicating the movement through the link 29 to the switch plate opens the switches 90 and 19 and cuts oif the current to the solenoid 88 and heating element 2. It will be notedtherefore, that as this low water response takes place the manual actuating means is thrown with it carrying with it the finger 52 to the off-position. Thus the operator is apprized of the fact that there has been such a movement and inasmuch as such a movement only takes place with low water is apprized of the low water condition.

It is desirable to vary the pressure, or temperature at which the pressure responsive control opens the switch. This is manually and readily accomplished by the operating handle 51. The roller 62 operating onthe lever 65 places tension on the spring 71 which gives the medium temperature. If, however, it is desired to have a higher pressure, the handle 51 is turned, placing the pointer at high and the roller 63 is brought to the position of the roller 62 in Fig. 3. The roller 63 is more remotefromthe rock shaft 48 than the roller 62 and consequently depresses the lever 65 further and puts a greater pressure on the spring. The roller 63 passes slightly beyond the center as it is moved to place and the stop 64 limits the movement and maintains the adjustment. It will also be noted that the axis of the roller 62 is slightly beyond the center of the shaft 48 and consequently yieldingly holds the rock arm with the switchin closed position and it will also be noted that as the roller 62 is swung to the position shown in Fig. 1, from that shown in Fig. 4, pressure is put on the spring 71 and this pressure is sufficient to overcome the lag spring 43 and snap the actuating lever 33 to close the switch. It will also be noted that as the rock arm 56 is swung to open the switch the roller 62 is carried past the center to the right and What little tension there may be left on the spring 71 tends to hold the roller 59 in engagement with the actuating lever and the rock shaft in the off-position.

With this device, therefore, the single switch is subject at all times to manual control through a mechanically operated means and without the interposition of electric actuating devices. It is subject at all times, when the switch is closed, to an automatic opening through the low water actuating means and it is subject when the switch is closed to-an off and on control through the pressure device, the pressure device leaving the manual control undisturbed so that the switch may be automatically closed as well as opened as the pressure varies.

What I claim as new i s:--

,1. In an electric controlling apparatus, the combination of an instrument subjected to electric current; a switch controlling the current; a manually and mechanically operable means throwing said switch to open and close the same; mechanism responsive to instrument conditions v throwing said switch. while maintaining said manually operable means at the closed position; and means actuated by said manually operable means adjusting said mechanism to vary its response to instrument conditions.

2. In an electric controlling apparatus, the combination of an instrument subjected to electric current; a switch controlling the current; a manually and mechanically operable means throwing said switch to open and close the same; devices responsive to a certain instrument condition opening said switch and maintaining the switch in an open position subject to a manual re-closing; and mechanism responsive to instrument conditions throwing said switch while maintaining said manually operable means in closed position.

3. In an electric controlling apparatus, the combination of an instrument subjected to electric current; a switch controlling the current; a manually and mechanically operable means throwing said switch to open and close the same; devices responsive to instrument conditions throwing said switch and said means; and mechanism responsive to instrument conditions throwing said switch while maintaining said manually operable means in closed position.

4. In an electric controlling apparatus, the combination of an instrument subjected to electric current; a switch controlling the current;

-a manually and mechanically operable means throwing said switch to open and close the same; devices responsive to instrument conditions throwing said switch; mechanism response to instrument conditions throwing said switch while maintaining said manually operable means in closed position; and means actuated by said manually operable means adjusting said mechanism to vary its response to instrument conditions.

5. In an electric controlling apparatus, the combination of an instrument subjected to electric current; a switch controlling the current; a manually and mechanically operable means throwing said switch to open and close the same; devices responsive to a certain instrument condition opening said switch and maintaining the switch in an open position subject to a manual re-closing; mechanism responsive to instrument conditions throwing said switch while maintaining said manually operable means in closed position; and means actuated by said manually operable means adjusting said mechanism to vary its response to instrument conditions.

6..In an electric controlling apparatus, the combination of an instrument subjected to electric current; a switch controlling the current; a manually and mechanically operable means throwing said switch toopen and close the same; devices responsive to instrument conditions throwing said switch, said means being operable with all settings of the devices; mechanism responsive to instrument conditions throwing said switch while maintaining said manually operable means in closed position; and means actuated by said manually operable means adjusting said mechanism to vary its response to instrument conditions. I

7. In an electric controlling apparatus, the combination of an instrument subjected to electric current; a switch controlling the current; an actuating lever actuating the switch; a manually operable rock arm actuating the lever; devices responsive to instrument conditions throwing said lever; and mechanism responsive to instrument conditions operating on said actuating lever while maintaining the rock arm in closed position.

8. In an electric controlling apparatus, the combination of an instrument subjected to electric current; a switch controlling the current;

an actuating lever actuating the switch; a manually operable rock arm actuating the lever; devices responsive to instrument conditions throwing said lever; mechanism responsive to instrument conditions operating on said actuating lever while maintaining the rock arm in closed position; and means actuated by the rock arm adjusting said mechanism to vary its response to instrument conditions.

v9. In anelectric controlling apparatus, the

combination of an instrument subjected to electric current; a switch controlling the current; an actuating lever actuating the switch; a manually operable rock arm actuatingthe lever; devices responsive to instrument conditions throwing said lever; and a lag device operatingon. the lever retarding its initial movement and accelerating the completion of said movement.

10. In an electric controlling apparatus, the combination of an instrument subjected to electric current; a switch controlling the current; an actuating lever actuating the switch; a manna ally operable rock arm actuating the lever to actuate the switch; devices responsive to instrument conditions operating the lever through the rock arm and the lever; and mechanism responsive to instrument conditions operating directly on the actuating lever to actuate the switch while maintaining the rock arm in closed position.

11. In an electric controlling apparatus, the combination of a water heater heated by electric current; a switch controlling the current; an actuating lever actuating the switch; a manually operated rock arm actuating the lever; devices responsive to low water conditions operating the lever and switch through the rock arm; and mechanism responsive to pressure conditions acting mechanically and directly on the lever.

12. In an electric controlling apparatus, the combination of a water heater heated-by electric current; a switch controlling the current; an actuating lever actuating the switch; a manually operated rock arm actuating the lever; devices responsive to low water conditions operating the lever and switch through the rock arm; mechanism responsive to pressure conditions acting mechanically and directly on the lever; and a counter-pressure spring acting between the lever and the rock arm.

13. In an electric controlling apparatus, the combination of a water heater heated by electric current; a switch controlling the current; an actuating lever actuating the switch; a manually operated rock arm actuating the lever; devices responsive to low water conditions operating the lever and switch through the rock arm; mechanism responsive to pressure conditions acting mechanically and directly on the lever; a counterpressure spring acting between the lever and the rock arm; and devices operable with the rock arm varying the pressure on the spring.

14. In an electric controlling apparatus, the combination of an instrument subjected to electric current; a switch controlling the current; an actuating lever actuating the switch; a manually operated rock arm actuating the lever; devices responsive to one instrument condition actuating the lever and switch through the rock arm; mechanism responsive to other instrument conditions acting mechanically and directly on the lever to actuatathe switch; and a counterspring between the lever and the rock arm.

15.1n an electric controlling apparatus, the combination of an instrument subjected to electric current; a switch controlling the current; an actuating lever actuating the switch; a manually operated rock arm actuating the lever; devices responsive to one instrument condition actuating the lever and switch through the rock arm; mechanism responsive to other instrument conditions acting mechanically and directly on the lever .to-actuate the switch; a counter-spring between the lever and the rock arm; and means operable with the rock arm varying the force 61 the spring.

16.- In an electric controlling apparatus, the combination of an instrument subjected to electric current; a switch controlling the current; an actuating lever actuating the switch, said lever being in the form of a bell crank; devices responsive to instrumentconditions throwing the lever; and a manually operable rock arm having two projections, one operating on one arm of the lever to throw the switch and the other projection on the other arm of the lever; varying the response of the lever to instrument conditions.

17. In an electric controlling apparatus, the combination of an instrument subjected to electric current; a switch controlling the current;

an actuating lever actuating the switch, said lever being in the form of a bell crank; devices responsive to instrument conditions throwing the lever, and a manually operable rock arm having two projections, one operating on one arm of the lever to throw the switch and the other projection on the other arm of the lever; a spring between the last named projection of the rock arm and the last named arm or the bell crank; varying the response of the lever to instrument conditions.

18. In an electric controlling apparatus, the combination of an instrument subjected to electric current; a switch controlling the current; an actuating lever actuating-the switch, said lever being in the form of a bell crank; devices responsive to instrument conditions throwing the switch; a manually operable rock arm having two projections, one operating on one arm of the lever and the other projection on the other arm of the lever; and a spring between the last named projection of the rock arm and the last named arm of the bell crank; the projection operating against the spring moving past a neutral point as it is thrown to lock the rock arm in adjustment.

19. In an electric controlling apparatus, the combination of an instrument subjected to electric current; a switch; a lever operating the switch; mechanism responsive to a condition of the instrument operating against said lever to throw the switch; a spring operating against the lever and opposed to the mechanism; a rock arm acting on the lever through the spring, said rock arm having a variable throw for adjusting the spring; and means on the rock arm directly actuating the lever to throw the switch in one direction.

20. In an electric controlling apparatus, the combination of an instrument subjected to electric current; a switch controlling the current; a manually operable means throwing said switch to open and close the same; a mechanical connection between the means and the switch communicating the movement of the means to the switch; and mechanism responsive to instrument conditions and operating independently or the means, throwing said switch.

21. In an electric controlling apparatus, the combination of an instrument subjected to electric current; a switch controlling the current; a manually operable means throwing said switch to open and close the same; a mechanical connection between the means and the switch communicating the movement or the means to the switch; and mechanism responsive to instrument conditions and operating independently of said means, throwing said switch to both open and close the same.

22. In an electric controlling apparatus, the combination oi an instrument subjected to electric current; a switch controlling the current; a

manually operable means throwing said switch to open and close the same; mechanism responsive to instrument conditions and operating independently of said means, throwing said switch to open and close the same; and means actuated by said manually operable means adjusting said mechanism to vary its response to instrument conditions.

23. In an electric controlling apparatus, the combination of an instrument subjected to electric current; a switch controlling the current; a manually operable means throwing said switch to open and close the same; a mechanical connection between the means and the switch communicating the movement of the means to the switch; devices responsive to instrument conditions, throwing said switch; and mechanism also responsive to intrument conditions and operating independently of said means, throwing said switch.

24. In an electric controlling apparatus, the combination of an instrument subjected to electric current; a switch controlling the current; a manually operable means throwing said switch to open and close the same; a mechanical connection between the means and the switch communicating the movement of the means to the switch; devices responsive to instrument conditions throwing said switch, said means being operable with all settings of the devices; and mechanism also responsive to instrument conditions and operating independently of said means, throwing said switch.

25. In an'electric controlling apparatus, the combination oi a water heater heated by electric current; a switch controlling the current; a manually operable means throwing said switch;

a mechanical connection between the means and the switch communicating the movement of the means to the switch; devices responsive to low water conditions in the heater throwing said switch; and mechanism responsive to other water conditions and operating independently of said manually operable means, throwing said switch;

26. In an electric controlling apparatus, the combination of a water heater heated by electric current; a switch controlling the current a manually operable means throwing said switch to open and close the same; a mechanical connection between the means and the switch communicating the movement oi. the means to the switch; devices responsive to low water conditions opening said switch and maintaining the switch in an open position subject to manual re-closing;

and mechanism responsive to pressure conditions throwing said switch. 

